Nigerians are grappling with widespread digital banking disruptions as persistent telecom network downtime continues to slow internet services and cripple financial transactions across the country.
The outages have affected online banking, Automated Teller Machines (ATMs), instant transfers, USSD services and fintech platforms, leaving many customers unable to complete transactions or experiencing failed transfers despite account debits.
The disruptions, linked largely to issues affecting the Nigeria Inter-Bank Settlement System (NIBSS), also forced crowds into banking halls, with some banks extending operating hours. Payment platforms such as KongaPay and Carbon had earlier alerted customers to service interruptions affecting transfers.
Industry data from the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) showed telecom operators recorded 5,934 fibre cuts in the first quarter of 2026, with vandalism, road construction, equipment theft and infrastructure degradation identified as major causes.
Telecom expert, Dr. Okubayo Onimole warned that weak protection of critical telecom infrastructure continues to fuel service disruptions, slowing internet access, dropping calls and stalling digital banking services nationwide.
